Attack of the Amazons by Gilbert L. Morris Read Free Book Online Page B

backs, Josh said, “You lead the way. Get us where we should go, and then we’ll decide what to do.”
    â€œI know,” Dave said. He pulled out the alarm that Jake had given him for his birthday. “Why don’t I punch this thing? That’d be enough to scare ’em to death, if they’re superstitious.”
    â€œThat’s good,” Josh agreed quickly. “Now let’s go.”
    Reb jogged off and the others followed. Wash and Abbey were the slowest, bringing up the rear, and Jake stayed back with them to hurry them along.
    Finally Reb threw up a hand, signaling them to stop. “Maybe we can get on both sides of this ravine. Let me take Jake and Wash with me, and the rest of you stay on this side. Give us time to get over there, and when it’s time, you let that there alarm off.”
    â€œAll right,” Dave said.
    Reb suddenly looked at Josh. His eyes narrowed. “What about it, Josh? Do we shoot to kill?”
    It was a bad moment for Josh Adams. He was by nature a gentle boy, but he had seen much death. Now it was hard for him to face Reb and the others. They all stood waiting. He thought,
If we don’t go all out, there’s so many of them they’ll kill that girl and then get us as well.
    Slowly he nodded. “Scare them off if we can. Self-defense if we have to. I hate to do it, but it may be necessary in order to rescue her. In that case, take the best shots you can and shoot quick. Make those arrows really rain down—it’s the only chance we’ve got.”
    â€œAll right, you’ve got it,” Reb said.
    Josh said, “Sarah, you and Abbey come along with Dave and me. Be quiet now.”
    Josh’s heart was pounding as he crept toward the edge of the cliff. Fortunately it was covered with brush and large trees, which hid them.
    Now as the Sleepers spread out along both sides of the ravine, he could hear the sound of a drum beating. Branches scratched his face, and he kept his bow protected. Finally, he came to where the brush parted, so that he could see what was happening in the valley below.
    Josh took a deep breath, for he saw a young girl tied to a tree that had been lopped off at the top. Her skin was indeed fair, and her hair was, as Reb had said, red. She appeared to be in her late teens, and he noticed that she was very attractive. She was wearing a skirt made out of some kind of animal hide, and a gold metallic halter protected her upper body. She wore a belt with a shiny buckle, and altogether she made a pathetic picture as she stood there at the mercy of the savages.
    Dave said, “She’s sure not a Nuworlder like any we’ve seen. But look at those warriors—they look like something out of a comic book.”
    Josh nodded. “They look pretty rough, all right.” He was eyeing the men. They had tattoos in hideous patterns all over their faces. That made them look even fiercer than they probably were. All carried spears and oddly shaped knives in their belts, and they raised the spears now, chanting in a language that none of the Sleepers understood.
    â€œWe’d better hurry and do something,” Abbey said.“See, they’re getting ready to light that fire. They’re going to burn her alive!”
    â€œWe can’t wait any longer,” Josh said. “Notch your arrows.” He slipped the arrow on his own bow and pulled the string to test the tension. He picked his target—one of the larger men, who held a torch, ready to light the fire. Another man, who could have been the chief, stood off to one side. His face was tattooed with blue and red figures, and he had a mouth like a shark’s. “Get ready with the signal, Dave. Then try to hit the chief there, if you have to. I’ll get the guy with the torch.”
    â€œJust look at that girl,” Sarah said. “She’s got plenty of courage.”
    Josh saw that was true. The young woman had thrown her